by Jenni Horn

jhorn@thekmgroup.co.uk

Health officials are awaiting the results of tests following the death of a seven-year-old boy.

The child was a pupil at English Martyrs Roman Catholic School in Frindsbury Road, Strood.

He died at Medway Maritime Hospital on Tuesday. Early reports linked the child's death to swine flu but health officials said they could not confirm this.

Yvonne Doyle, regional director of public health for NHS South East Coast said: "‘We are currently investigating the death of a seven-year-old who died on Tuesday.

"The child was admitted to hospital with a range of complications which were not related to swine flu. The cause of death has not been confirmed and we are awaiting test results.’

A spokesman for Medway Maritime Hospital, said: "Medway NHS Foundation Trust can confirm that, sadly, there was a child death in Medway this week. At this present time, the cause of death is unknown."

A mum of a child who attends the school, who didn’t want to be named, said: “I can tell you a boy at the school has died but it’s not been confirmed if he died from swine flu.

“An email was sent out to parents this morning (Friday, July 17). I believe a mass will be held for him at the English Martyrs Roman Catholic Church in Strood on Tuesday.”

The school is open to staff and pupils today although staff would not speak directly to reporters and calls were referred to the local education authority, Medway Council.

kmfm reporter Rhona Pinkerton speaks to Dr Alison Barnett, medical director at NHS Medway

Doctors in the Medway Towns are treating 250 patients a day with swine flu.

Council and health workers are setting up a centre to dispense medicine to sufferers.

The dispensary - which will not open unless the situation worsens - is at the Compass Centre in Chatham Maritime.

Doctors are insisting that if it opens it must be a flu-free zone - they want people to appoint a Flu Friend who will go along to pick up the anti-viral medicine if they get sick.

Dr Alison Barnett, medical director at NHS Medway, said the Compass Centre was on stand-by in case it was needed.

"I would be surprised if we open it next week," she said. "We think we can handle the expected cases but nobody knows, so it is right to be prepared."
If it does open it will be to dispense the anti-viral drug, Tamiflu. It will not provide any medical advice service.

The death in Strood follows that of another six-year-old, Chloe Buckley, from north-west London, who died last week. Her family said she had no underlying health problems.